Our event this weekend was at AMF Chandler and this would be the last one of the 2023 Summer Quarterly Circuit (July to September) and we would have several bowlers vying for a place in the top 4 in quarterly points. We would see another good turnout with 105 total entries (79 qualifying and 26 economy parlays), 30 cashers and a 1 in 3.5 cash ratio, paying out over $6,300.00 in main and side event prize funds. The bowlers bowled on the 37ft Kegel Radium oil pattern. For whatever reason, regardless of the oil pattern, this center has always seen high scores at our tournaments. This pattern was considered a short pattern at 37ft but had a lot more volume and with the older lane surfaces at this center once the oil pattern broke down and saw some carry down from the urethane being used, then we would see a lot of big scores this weekend. We would see not one, but two honors scores with Garrett Plum shooting 300 in Game 3 of the first squad to set the tone for the day and then we would see Joshua Molloy go from 485 series in the first squad to shooting a huge 802 scratch series in the second squad of the day!
We would have John Verbil from the True Amateur Tournament (TAT) Desert Southwest Region on hand to present certificates to his upcoming event at Cliff Castle Casino (Oct. 6th – Oct. 8th) for the highest qualifiers of the day. Joshua Molloy would take home the free entry with his honor series. Justin Surat and Ryan Griggs would also be awarded $50.00 TAT credit for being the other Division’s high qualifier on the day. More information on this event at https://www.trueamateurtournaments.com/dsw
We want to send a warm welcome to Garrett Plum, Maddisen Rook, Norman Mannhalter, Arthur Lara, Bracken Dahl, Raquel Osorio, Ty Waldren, Edward Polansky, Harry Weigle, Alex Hartman, and Nicholas Berrieault who all came out for their first tournament this weekend! Congrats to Garrett Plum, Maddisen Rook, Harry Weigle and Nicholas Berrieault on making the quarterfinals in their very first event! We hope you all had a great time, and we look forward seeing you at our future tournaments! Congrats to Nicholas Berrieault, Ryan Griggs, and Bruce Franks, Jr. who were this weekend’s Parlay Power Players. All three bowlers were able to turn their $30.00 Economy Parlay entry into a quarterfinals check, with Ryan taking it even further. Your winner of the free plastic ball raffle, with an option to upgrade to any Track high-performance ball for $95.00, was Joshua Molloy!
Since this was a 3-squad tournament, we would re-oil after the 2pm squad. The quarterfinals would be bowled on the fresh oil pattern and the scores continued to stay high as the previous squads of the day. It would come down to the final few frames to see who would advance to semi-final round. We would have 25 quarterfinalists with each Division having at least 8 bowlers in each Division. With our 1 in 3 cut ratio, from the quarterfinals to the semi-finals, we would cut to the Top 2 bowlers in the B and C Divisions, with the A Division cutting to the Top 3 bowlers as they had 9 quarterfinalists.
The A Division would see Josh Williams (+148) emerge as the #1 seed and he would have to face off against #2 seed Kyler Adams (+118) and #3 seed Josh Molloy (+116). The B Division would have Myles Hamilton (+116) as the #1 seed, and he would be taking on Zach Van Dusen (+80). The C Division would feature SFT newcomer Maddisen Rook (+85) as the #1 seed, and she would be up against Parlay Power Player Ryan Griggs (+73).
The A Division Semi-Finals would be a good match as all three bowlers would have a chance to advance to the Finals going into the tenth frame. Kyler Adams would finish up with a score of 235 while Josh Williams would take the lead with a score of 248. It would come down to Joshua Molloy needing at least a double to advance. Joshua would strike on the first ball, but would get nine-spare to finish out and barely edge out Kyler with a score of 236 for second in the Division.
The B Division Semi-Finals would not be as close as Zach Van Dusen would struggle to get lined up and could not get any carry to finish with a score of 181. Myles Hamilton would continue to string strikes as he would put up a huge game of 256 to advance to the Finals.
The C Division would be a nail biter as both Maddisen Rook and Ryan Griggs would go back and forth throughout the match. It would come down to the tenth frame as Maddisen would finish up first. Maddisen would put up a fill out the tenth to finish with a score of 227. Ryan would need to mark and get good count to win the match. Ryan would leave the 3-6-10 on his first ball and would go on to make the spare. On his fill ball Ryan would get enough count to win the match with a score of 234 to advance to make his first SFT Finals appearance.
As we would move into the Finals it looked like the favorite had to be Joshua Williams. Josh’s last win was last August at Bowlero Via Linda and was looking to take home his fifth AHT SFT title and his first of the 2023 season. Last season Josh had finish in third place overall in the SFT Player of the Year points race which awarded him four qualifying exemptions. Exemptions are awarded to our Top 4 Player of the Year points race winners and also the Match Play Invitational at the end of the season. So, Josh was taking advantage of using this exemption to possibly win the $1,000.00 first place prize! Standing in his way was red-hot lefty Myles Hamilton, who was looking at winning his second AHT SFT title and his first in almost 10 years! Also, Ryan Griggs was making his first Finals appearance and looking to turn his $30 Economy Parlay entry into $1,000.00!
The Finals would start off with Myles crushing the pocket, but leaving a mixer 10-pin, which he would pick up. Josh would be up next and crush the pocket for strike. Ryan would finish off the first frame with a 3-pin as his ball would go a bit high in the pocket and Ryan would pick up the spare. Second frame would see Myles strike, while Josh would leave the 4-7 and Ryan would leave a stone 9-pin. Josh and Ryan would go on to make their spares. The third frame would see Myles leave the 6-10 as it looked like he made a slight move from the first frame. Myles would pick up the spare to stay clean. Josh and Ryan would both strike in the third frame to stay head of Myles. Myles would strike in the fourth frame as the right lane looked to be his better lane. Josh’s shot in the fourth frame would go a bit long as he would almost 2-10, with the 10-pin falling late. Josh would pick up his spare as Ryan would double to take the lead. The fifth frame would see Myles double up as he looked to try to string some strikes together. Josh would also strike on the left lane and Ryan’s shot in the fifth frame would leak out a bit wide to leave the 6-9-10. Ryan’s spare attempt would look good off his hand but would curve a bit left once it hit the friction to chop off the 9-pin.
Midway through the Finals and all three bowlers were within at 10 pins of each other. Myles would continue to strike in the sixth frame as he looked to make up the handicap difference that he was giving Josh and Ryan. Josh would also strike for a much-needed double. Ryan would get a strike as he looked to make up for the open frame. Myles would leave a flat 7-pin in the seventh, which he would go on to pick up. Josh would string another strike for a Turkey as he would take the lead. Ryan would get a light mixer strike to stay with Josh. The eighth frame would see Myles crush the pocket on his good lane. Josh would see his ball hit a bit of carry down as his ball would hit the pocket late leaving the 1-2-10. Josh would make the split conversion to stay in the match. Ryan would finish up the eighth frame seeing his ball go through the nose but would leave the 3-9, which he would not convert as he would chop out the 3-pin.
It would come down to the ninth and tenth frames to determine our winner. Myles would again leave the 7-pin on the left lane and would go on to pick it up. Josh would strike in the ninth to set himself up for the tenth frame. Ryan would leave a flat 10-pin as he looked to slow down and get a little more left with it. Ryan would pick up his spare and we would see all three bowlers within ten pins of each other. Myles would finish his tenth frame on his good lane as he would strike on his first shot in the tenth. Myles would need to double up to put pressure on Josh and Ryan to do the same, but would see his ball go a bit high in the pocket to leave a 6-pin. Myles would miss the spare and finish the match with a score of 227. Up next would-be Josh and his first ball in the tenth would go a bit high in the pocket and almost leave the 6-7-10, but the 7-pin would fall late. Josh would pick up the spare and then leave a light 7-pin on the fill for a score of 232. Ryan would get up for the tenth frame needing a strike and a mark to win. Ryan’s first ball in the tenth would crush the pocket for a strike. Ryan’s next shot would go high in the pocket leaving the 3-10 split. Ryan would pick off the 3-pin on his spare attempt to give a final score of 233, which would give him his first AHT SFT title and $1,000.00 by only 1 pin! Congrats to Joshua Williams on second place and also congrats to Myles Hamilton on third place.
Thank you to everyone that came out this weekend to bowl. We appreciate all the support and all the new faces that come out to give our tournament club a try. Thank you to Shannon Fletcher and the staff at AMF Chandler for having us at their center and providing great customer service. Also, thanks to Michael Dragon and Hokey Begay for helping out and allowing us to continue to run these events.
We’ll be back in a few weeks for an early bird 2-squad tournament at Bowlero Christown on Sunday, October 15th, as we kick off the 2023 Fall Quarterly Circuit (October through December) points race!
AMF Chandler Finals - Josh Williams vs. Myles Hamilton vs. Ryan Griggs
